. >> reporter: in brick township, new jersey, still recovering from superstorm sandy, nerves are frayed as they prepare again for storm surge. >> just really scared. terrified. >> reporter: at this boston area home depot, a much-needed shipment of ice melt arrived. >> new england tonight is struggling with the worst snowfall in its history. >> reporter: for many here, the looming storm brings back memories of the '78 blizzard that battered the region 35 years ago this week, dumping as much as 3 feet of snow, killing 100, stranding many more. fred baylist remembers it well. >> it's a cliche, but it's a perfect storm. it hit right at rush hour, it continued and it dumped a lot of snow very fast. >> reporter: city officials say they're ready for a wallop, loading sand and salt on to trucks, a fleet that could number 900 strong at the height of the storm. airlines are bracing for major travel disruptions throughout new england. 1,100 flights already cancelled. >> we're hardened new englanders and used to these types of storms but want to remind everyone to use common sense. stay off the str